Method and lock for hair extensions

ABSTRACT

A method and lock for hair extensions comprising a clip that is substantially flat with an open end and interior surfaces, a first plyer-shaped utensil, and a second plyer-shaped utensil. At least one interior surface of the clip has a knurled texture to create friction against the hairs when the clip is compressed using the first plyer-shaped utensil, allowing the hair extension to be secured with the recipient&#39;s hair. The first plyer-shaped utensil, with ridged prongs can optionally create additional knurling surfaces on the clip. The second plyer-shaped utensil, with pointed prongs, is used to open and remove the clip and hair extension when desired.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This present application claims the benefit of, and hereby incorporatesby reference, Provisional Application No. 61/600,474 filed Feb. 17,2012.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable

SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND

Hair extensions are a method of adding length to human hair byincorporating artificial hair or natural hair collected from otherindividuals. The hair extensions are attached to the base of therecipient's natural hair.

Current hair extension attachment techniques include the use of clips,rings, glue, and other attachment means that cause the hair to lookbulky and unnatural. Moreover, such means of attachment aretime-consuming. For example, hair must be strung through a small ringwith a very narrow opening using an instrument to pull hair through thenarrow opening. Due to hair growth, such attachment means last for only2-3 months before the attachment means begin to slide off.

For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for an attachment means thatsecures hair extensions in a manner that makes the hair look natural,that is less time-consuming, and that grips onto hair for a longerperiod of time. The solution is in the form of the present inventionthat comprises a flat clip with an open end through which hair can bepassed through. The overall flatness of the clip removes the bulky lookwhen the hair extensions are applied, providing a natural looking hairextension. More importantly, the inside of the clip comprises knurling,which creates friction against the hairs natural tendency to slide outof the clip. A first utensil is used to clamp down on the clip, closingthe open end and further flattening the clip. A second utensil is usedto open the clips and release the hair extensions.

SUMMARY

The present invention is directed to a method and device that satisfiesthis need to attach hair extensions in a manner that looks natural, isless time-consuming, and that remains attached for a longer period oftime. The device comprises a clip that is substantially flat with anopen end. The clip preferably has two interior walls and two curvedcorners. At least one of the interior walls has a knurling to keep hairfirmly secured within the clip. The open end of the clip slightlyoverlaps with an exterior wall of the clip when clamped down. Onceclamped down, the clip is flattened, providing for a more naturallooking hair extension. The simple clamping method presses the clipwalls and knurling together creating friction between the hairs so thatthey remain attached for a longer period of time.

The clamping method is achieved by using the first utensil of thepresent invention. The utensil comprises prongs having ridged interiorsurfaces. The utensil is used to clamp down the clip's open end, securethe hair, and flatten the clip. The utensil can also be used to addknurling to clips that have no knurling, or to add an additionalknurling to clips. With the use of a knurled interior surface, eitherpre-embedded in the clip or added to the clip with the first utensil,the clip can maintain the hair extension for up to 4-5 months, ascompared to conventional hair extensions that last for only 2-3 months.A second utensil with pointed prongs can be used to remove the clip andhair extension if desired.

DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A illustrates a perspective view of a clip embodying features ofthe present invention.

FIG. 2A illustrates a side view of a clip embodying features of thepresent invention in the open position.

FIG. 2B illustrates a sectional view of a clip embodying features of thepresent invention as shown in FIG. 2A.

FIG. 3 illustrates a top view of a clip embodying features of thepresent invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of a clip embodying features of thepresent invention in the closed position.

FIG. 5 illustrates a side view of an alternate embodiment of a clipembodying features of the present invention in the open position.

FIG. 6A illustrates a first utensil embodying features of the presentinvention used to clamp down the clip and create knurling on the clip.

FIG. 6B illustrates a close-up view of the first utensil prongs shown inFIG. 6A.

FIG. 7 illustrates a second utensil embodying features of the presentinvention used to open and remove the clip and hair extension.

DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1-7 illustrate a method and lock for hair extensions. The methodand lock for hair extensions comprises a clip 100 that is substantiallyflat with an open end 108 as best shown in FIGS. 1-5. The clip furthercomprises two interior walls 102 and two curved corners 104, with theends of the clip 100 wrapping towards each other. FIGS. 6A-B illustratesa first plyer-shaped utensil 600 comprising a ridged interior surface604 on the utensil prongs 602 used to clamp down the clip's open end108, secure the hair, and flatten the clip 100. Also, the ridgedinterior surface 604 allows the utensil 600 to be used for creating aknurling texture on the clip's 100 interior walls 102. FIG. 7illustrates a second plyer-shaped utensil 700 comprising pointed prongs702 to open and remove the clip and hair extension.

Referring to FIG. 1-4, at least one of the clip's 100 interior walls hasa knurled surface 106. In a preferred embodiment, the clips 100 are madeof copper for pliability and improved grip. Although copper is apreferred material, other metallic or composite materials that may beformed into a clip 100 as described may be used. After the hair ispassed through the clip's 100 interior walls, the open clip 100 isinserted into the first plyer-shaped utensil 600 to be closed bycompression. When the clip 100 is compressed using the firstplyer-shaped utensil 600, the open end 108 of the clip 100 slightlyoverlaps with the exterior wall 110 as best shown in FIGS. 3-4. Oncecompressed closed, the walls and knurling 106 are pressed towards eachother, flattening the clip 100 and creating friction to securely holdthe hair in the clip 100.

In a preferred embodiment, the inside of the clip 100 is entirelyknurled 106 for better grip. Also, in a preferred embodiment shown inFIG. 5, the clip 100 has a stepped shape on the exterior wall 110, sothat when the clip 100 is closed down, the open end 108 of the clip 100that slightly overlaps with exterior wall 110 of the clip 100 is almostcompletely flush.

The first plyer-shaped utensil 600 shown in FIGS. 6A-B comprises prongs602 with interior ridged surfaces 604 shown in FIG. 6B. In a preferredembodiment, the first plyer-shaped utensil 600 is made of a metal orother material suitable to withstand the forces necessary to compressand knurl the clip 100. The second plyer-shaped utensil 700 shown inFIG. 7 comprises prongs 702 that are pointed.

The clip 100 and first plyer-shaped utensil 600 is used together for theattachment of hair extensions. If the clip 100 is not knurled, or needsadditional knurling, the first plyer-shaped utensil 600 can be used byinserting the ridged interior surface 604 of the prongs 602 into theclip 100 so that the ridged interior surface 604 is in contact with theinterior wall 102 of the clip. The first plyer-shaped utensil 600handles 606 are then squeezed together, compressing the clip 100 wallbetween the prongs 602. The resulting compression creates a knurledsurface 106 on the interior surface of the clip 100. Next, The naturalhair of the person receiving the hair extensions is passed through theclip 100 along with the hair extension so that they overlap acrossinterior walls 102 and curved corners 104 of the clip 100. The firstplyer-shaped utensil 600 is positioned so that the ridged interiorsurface 604 of the prongs 602 are on the open end 108 of the clip 100.Next, the handles 606 are squeezed together, compressing the clip's 100open end 108 and exterior walls 110 together. After being compressed,the clip's 100 is flattened, allowing the hairs to be secured betweenthe interior walls 102 and knurling 106. When the clip 100 is to beremoved, the second plyer-shaped utensil 700 with pointed prongs 702, asillustrated in FIG. 7, is inserted into the clip 100. When the secondplyer-shaped utensil 700 handles 706 (not shown) are squeezed, theclip's 100 open end 108 is opened, allowing the clip and hair to bereleased.

All features disclosed in this specification, including any accompanyingclaim, abstract, and drawings, may be replaced by alternative featuresserving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly statedotherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each featuredisclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent orsimilar features.

Any element in a claim that does not explicitly state “means for”performing a specified function, or “step for” performing a specificfunction, is not to be interpreted as a “means” or “step” clause asspecified in 35 U.S.C. §112, paragraph 6. In particular, the use of“step of” in the claims herein is not intended to invoke the provisionsof 35 U.S.C. §112, paragraph 6.

Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shownand described, various modifications and substitutions may be madethereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.Accordingly, it is to be understood that the present invention has beendescribed by way of illustration and not limitation.

What is claimed:
 1. A clip for securing a hair extension to arecipient's hair, the clip comprised of malleable material with a firstand second end, wherein the first end is biased toward the second endand capable of overlapping the second end when pressed downwardly, theclip comprising at least two interior wall surfaces, at least twoexterior wall surface, and at least two curved corner surfaces.
 2. Theclip of claim 1, wherein the clip comprises a substantially flat shape.3. The clip of claim 1, wherein the clip further comprising at least oneinterior surface with a knurled texture.
 4. A method for securing a hairextension to a recipient's hair utilizing the clip of claim 1,comprising the steps of: a. Inserting the clip between two jaws of afirst plyer-shaped utensil having at least one rigid surface on at leastone jaw of the first plyer-shaped utensil; b. Pressing down on the firstplyer-shaped utensil so that the at least one rigid surface of the atleast one jaw of the first plyer-shaped utensil forms a knurling textureon at least one interior wall surface of the clip; c. passing a hairextension and a recipient's hair through the clip so that the hairsoverlap across interior surface of the clip; d. Utilizing the firstplyer-shaped utensil to press the first end of the clip toward thesecond end of the clip, forming an enclosure for the recipient's hairand hair extension; e. Pressing down on the first plyer-shaped utensilto flatten the clip and secure the hair extension to the recipient'shair, while also forming additional knurling textures on the exteriorwall surfaces of the clip.
 5. The method of claim 4, further comprisinga method for removing the clip comprising the step of utilizing a secondplyer-shaped utensil with at least one sharp prong biased inwardly, topry open the clip by inserting the at least one sharp prong between theat least two interior walls of the clip and pressing down on the secondplyer-shaped utensil.
 6. A method for securing a hair extension to arecipient's hair utilizing the clip of claim 3, comprising the steps of:a. passing a hair extension and a recipient's hair through the clip sothat the hairs overlap across interior surface of the clip; b. Utilizinga first plyer-shaped utensil to press the first end of the clip towardthe second end of the clip, forming an enclosure for the recipient'shair and hair extension; c. Pressing down on the first plyer-shapedutensil to flatten the clip and secure the hair extension to therecipient's hair, while also forming additional knurling textures on theexterior wall surfaces of the clip.
 7. The method of claim 6, furthercomprising a method for removing the clip comprising the step ofutilizing a second plyer-shaped utensil with at least one sharp prongbiased inwardly, to pry open the clip by inserting the at least onesharp prong between the at least two interior walls of the clip andpressing down on the second plyer-shaped utensil.